McCain Rolls out Health Care Plan To NH Reporters

On the eve of his eleventh trip to New Hampshire, John McCain laid out his health care plan to Granite State reporters.

Speaking by phone, McCain said "it's not the quality of health care, it's the cost."

"Health care is rapidly becoming unaffordable," "we're facing a perfect storm," he added.

Calling his plan "competition based, free market based," the McCain plan would allow a tax credit of $2,500 to low-income individuals and $5,000 to low-income families who obtain their own insurance. McCain's plan would also encourage the development of cheaper drugs, fitness and wellness education and legal reforms of medical malpractice lawsuits.

The Arizona Senator also criticized Democratic proposals to expand the SCHIP program saying "the way their plan on funding it is bogus." Congressional Democrats plan to pay for an expansion of the child health care program through a tax on cigarettes.

McCain added "after 2012 the program costs drops into an abyss."

McCain will be spending the upcoming weekend with town hall meetings in Amherst and Hopkinton. He will also be speaking at a global warming conference and an AARP forum.